The different types of fans used in the IQF freezers

Today, there are many producers of IQF freezers on the global market, but only a few of them are able to offer innovative solutions for frozen food processors, in particular, and for the food industry, in general. Creating a balanced ratio between all the complex elements of an IQF freezer, in order to obtain the best possible freezing result, is a complex science.

The fans of an IQF freezer are essential because they have a crucial role in obtaining the optimal fluidization of the product, in each freezing zone. The fans are responsible for circulating the cold air inside an IQF tunnel freezer. There are many types of fans on the market, each of them suitable for a certain type of freezer. The difference between them lies in the fans' design and the method that is used for circulating the air.

The most important criteria when making a selection between different types of fans are: material, efficiency, volume flow rate, pressure, and space limitation. Depending on the airflow's trajectory inside the IQF freezer, there are two main categories of fans: axial flow fans and centrifugal flow fans. In the axial flow fans, the air doesn't change its direction at all, while in the centrifugal flow fans, the air changes its direction both when entering and when exiting.

Axial flow fans

The axial flow fans can be categorized into three main types: tube axial, axial vane, and propeller fans. The innovative IQF technology, such as the OctoFrostTM IQF tunnel freezer, works with axial vane fans because their design insures a better flow control and a better energy efficiency. Axial vane fans have a wheel inside a cylindrical housing, with a close clearance between the blade and the housing, which makes the airflow more efficient.

Centrifugal flow fans

The centrifugal flow fans can also be categorized into three main types: radial, backward curved, and forward curved. The backward curved and the radial fans are the most commonly used for IQF freezers. The reason is that they are more effective than forward curved fans since the changes in static pressure don't overload the motor.

The interdependent relation between design and efficiency

Each type of fan design has its own level of efficiency. The OctoFrostTM IQF tunnel freezer uses custom-made axial vane fans, adjusted to the overall design of the freezer, which allows the possibility to change the frequency and to run the fans at different speeds, depending on the product that is frozen.

Furthermore, the OctoFrostTM IQF tunnel freezer's fans are so effective that they only need to run at a maximum of 75-80% of their full speed capacity.

For a high-performance equipment, the fans alone can't guarantee superior IQF products, but only in combination with other elements of the freezer. For an optimal circulating airflow, energy efficient fans in an IQF equipment can be a major asset.